Lai Ro Thang is a long time friend and pastor in Yangon, Myanmar. He first took an interest in the “little book”, Simple Truths for the New Believer more than ten years ago and translated the book into Burmese and Mizo-Chin for the churches there. Since that time, Rova (as he first introduced himself on my first visit to Burma) has been responsible for printing, distributing, and training pastors in the use of the book. He has printed thousands of books and distributed them widely to pastors and church planters in multiple denominations. 

Several months ago, Rova asked if we could assist with translation costs to put the Travel Guide to the Bible into Burmese and Mizo-Chin. God provided the funds. The projects were started. Then the troubles in Myanmar increased. 

Myanmar’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested after the country’s military seized power in February 2021. The event sparked wide scale protests, armed resistance and mass killings. Most recently, government forces have burned more than 100 villages and more than 12,000 people have been killed in conflicts throughout the country. People in the nation’s capital have had to live through food shortages and restrictions of services in many parts of the city. The military government allows electricity to the city for limited and unpredictable hours a day.

One week ago, we received the first look at the Mizo-Chin and the Burmese translation book layouts. Rova and his friends have done a wonderful job with the book and the task is nearing completion. However, rampant inflation and the devaluation of the currency in Myanmar have added additional roadblocks to the production and distribution of the books. While the eBook format is already in limited distribution, Rova is certain that the printed books will be deeply appreciated and, in some cases, “much better” than the electronic formats.

Please join us in prayer as Rova seeks to find a reliable printer, as we move the funds necessary to print a reasonable number of first editions in both languages. Initial costs are approximately $5,000 USD. And pray for peace in Myanmar. Though it is considered a Buddhist country, there are thousands of believers there, including some who trace their heritage to Adonriam Judson’s arrival in the late 1700s.